Encouragement

I had it heavy on my mind to mention encouragement in WFTD today.
Yesterday at church the song preceding the morning message was related to encouragement and then the pastor’s message was on encouragement. He remarked about the coincidence of the song and the message being about encouragement and I thought to myself it REALLY was a coincidence because I wanted to write about it today as well. Perhaps God is trying to reach some of the discouraged folks among us.

Hopefully none of us are in a deep dark valley right now, but odds are that someone is. Serious illness, trouble in the marriage, financial problems, death or serious illness of a loved one, trouble with the career, problems with friends, legal problems and the like are common to us all. Everyone on this planet faces similar trials every day.
Sometimes it seems as if the harder we try, the worse that it gets.
What people who are discouraged really need is encouragement perhaps from a friend or acquaintance familiar with their problems. We all need to understand that life is composed of valleys and peaks and when we are in a valley, no matter how deep, we will eventually see sunshine again.


My pastor’s message was primarily about how we should make an effort to encourage those around us. While I agree with that, I get most of my encouragement directly from the Bible and strongly suggest that if you are discouraged right now that you go there for help. Much is written in the Bible about trials and tribulations and how to weather the storms of life. Just look in the index in the back and read what God says about weathering the storms of life. It actually states that we should “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2…)”. What if you do not have any faith? Perhaps God is reaching out to you and trying to draw you near to Him. Sadly some people will refuse to even acknowledge God until disaster has struck and only then will they realize that we all need more than just ourselves to make it through the night. The Bible teaches that there can be no lasting peace, happiness, or joy apart from Him. That is where it comes from. I can personally attest to this fact.
The happiest days of my life have been when I walked closest with God.
The saddest and most miserable are when I walk apart from Him.

When I have sunk to the depths of despair, I get the most encouragement from the promise in the Bible that I am not in this by myself. A loving God is with me always. He tells me in His Word that the very hairs on my head are numbered. He knows everything that there is to know about me, and in spite of my weaknesses He loves me, and has promised to protect me and take care of me FOREVER. He loved me enough to die for me, and since He loved me enough to do that, I know that He is going to take care of me through “thick and thin”. I don’t like being in a valley, but I know I am not fighting the battle alone. I turn to God for His help, try to learn what is meant to be learned from this experience, and pray that I can get back on a peak SOON.

God states that this current, problem-filled life is like a vapor and will be gone before I know it and then paradise for all of eternity. No more sorrow, sadness, no death, no sickness, no problems, hey we won’t even have taxes. Now that is encouraging.

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Phil. 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.


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